Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spamozo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Spathiphyllum  plant named ‘Spamozo’, characterized by its upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants; glossy dark green-colored leaves; large white-colored spathes that are positioned just above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes; and good inflorescence longevity.

Botanical designation: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPAMOZO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Spamozo’.

The new Spathiphyllum plant is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new year-round floweringSpathiphyllum plants that have glossy dark green-colored leaves, largewhite-colored spathes and good postproduction longevity.

The new Spathiphyllum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in September, 2010 of a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20071360-36, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20071584-28, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Spathiphyllum plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spathiphyllum plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands sinceMay, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Spathiphyllumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Spamozo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Spamozo’ as a new and distinct Spathiphyllumplant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants.    -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Large white-colored spathes that are positioned just above        the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes.    -   5. Good inflorescence longevity.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more durable        than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more durable        than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum can also be compared to plants ofSpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Sparanke’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,294. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Spathiphyllumdiffer from plants of ‘Sparanke’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are more compact than plants        of ‘Sparanke’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are smoother than        and not as rough as leaves of plants of ‘Sparanke’.    -   3. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have larger inflorescences        than plants of ‘Sparanke’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Spathiphyllum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Spathiphyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Spamozo’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Spamozo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late spring in 14-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Spathiphyllumproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 22° C. to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C.and light levels averaged 5 klux. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and the detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘Spamozo’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20071360-36,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20071584-28,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 215 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 240 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching plant            habit; overall plant shape, broadly inverted triangle;            moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Clumping habit.—Freely clumping habit, bushy and dense            growth habit; about 14 clumps develop per plant.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About            41.9 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of            inflorescences.—About 48.1 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 64.5 cm.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 26.4 cm. Width: About 13.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Short attenuate. Margin: Entire; moderately            undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: More intense than            close to between 143A and 144A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to between 139C and 143C. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A;            venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to NN137D; venation, close to 144B. Petioles:            Length (excluding geniculum): About 11.7 cm. Diameter, just            below geniculum: About 5.5 mm. Diameter, at plant base:            About 7 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 149D. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B.            Geniculum length: About 3 cm. Geniculum diameter: About            6 mm. Geniculum texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Geniculum color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 138A. Wing length: About            11.5 cm. Wing diameter: About 1 cm. Wing color: Close to            138A; towards the margins, close to 143C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement and flowering habit.—Moderately to            strongly cupped erect spathes with columnar spadices held            above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes; flowering            structures arise from leaf axils; plants begin flowering            about 26 weeks after planting; freely and continuous            flowering year-round under greenhouse conditions in The            Netherlands; about three inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; fragrance, sweet and            pleasant.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last more than three            weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length: About 19.5 cm. Width: About 10 cm. Depth:            About 6.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex: Apiculate;            twisting and curled. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not            undulate. Texture and luster, front surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly leathery; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly leathery;            moderately glossy. Color: When developing, front surface:            Close to NN155A; apex, close to 144C. When developing, rear            surface: Close to NN155A; towards the apex and main vein,            close to 144A to 144B. Fully developed, front surface: Close            to NN155C; towards the apex, close to 144B; color does not            change with development. Fully developed, rear surface:            Close to NN155D; towards the apex and main vein, close to            144A to 144B; color does not change with development.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm. Shape:            Columnar, tapering towards the apex; apex, obtuse; base,            obtuse; cross-section, rounded. Aspect: Close to erect,            about 5° from scape axis. Color, immature: Close to 150D.            Color, mature: Close to between 158C and 158D. Flowers:            Quantity per spadix: Numerous, about 250. Shape: Rounded.            Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Anther color:            Close to NN155B to NN155C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 155B. Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary            color: Close to 158C.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 42.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte to slightly glossy. Color: Close to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Spathiphyllum.-   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Spathiphyllum    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common    to Spathiphyllum plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have been    observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to    about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spamozo’as illustrated and described.